St Thomas, Werneth

Welcome

Welcome to the home page of St. Thomas' Church, Werneth. St. Thomas' is one of many parish churches in the Church of England. It is part of the Diocese of Manchester.

Latest News

Covid-19

Our usual timetable is suspended to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The church building is closed. There will be no scheduled services in church, no meetings, and no community activities.

However, as Christians, we are free to worship anywhere, anytime "in spirit and in truth". And we encourage you to hold your loved ones, the nation, and indeed the whole world before Almighty God in these days. You may choose to do so at the usual time on a Sunday morning.

This page has a growing number of resources to help us pray for the needs of the world in the days and weeks to come.

We hope to keep adding to these resources in the days to come, so do check back, and use this page. Suggestions and offers are welcome!

Prayers on this page

Feel free to dip in and out of the prayers and resources on this page.

You can put together your own service, using the box on the right: "Order of Service".

You can put together your own service, by choosing from the sections below.

Click here, and some of the recordings will be heard in Farsi.
Other prayer resources from the Church of England

Church of England Church Online
has a range of resources "to help you walk with Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world".

The Prayer for Today

Daily Prayer
Here you can find: Morning Prayer, Prayer During the Day, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer (Compline), as well as a link to the Daily Prayer App.

Reflections to use alone

Opening Hymns

There is a Green Hill
There is a Redeemer

The Preparation

in Passiontide

Read by Nick

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
your saving power among the nations.
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation, to you be praise and glory for ever. As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief your only Son was lifted up that he might draw the whole world to himself. May we walk this day in the way of the cross and always be ready to share its weight, declaring your love for all the world. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Collects

Good Friday the Outbreak those who are ill hospital staff & medical researchers from one who is ill & isolated the Christian Community

Good Friday

Read by Nick

Almighty Father,look with mercy on this your familyfor which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayedand given up into the hands of sinnersand to suffer death upon the cross;who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.
About the outbreak

Read by David

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
About the outbreak

Read by Andrea

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake. Amen.
About the outbreak

Read by Neil

God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For those who are ill
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain, knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For hospital staff, and medical researchers

Read by Lynne

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From those who are ill or isolated

Read by Eileen

O God, help me to trust you, help me to know that you are with me, help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Christian Community

Read by Jonathan

We are not people of fear: we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity.
We are your people God, giving and loving, wherever we are, whatever it costs For as long as it takes, wherever you call us. Amen.

Canticles

Good Friday Song of Lamentation

A Song of Solomon

Read by Nick

Many waters cannot quench love;
neither can the floods drown it.

Set me as a seal upon your heart, ♦
as a seal upon your arm;

For love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave; ♦
its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, ♦neither can the floods drown it.

If all the wealth of our house were offered for love, ♦it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8.6,7

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Many waters cannot quench love;
neither can the floods drown it.

A Song of Lamentation

Read by Nick

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? ♦
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

Which was brought upon me, ♦
which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.

For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; ♦
for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage.

Remember my affliction and my bitterness, ♦
the wormwood and the gall!

But this I call to mind, ♦
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, ♦
his mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning; ♦
great is your faithfulness.

‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ♦
‘therefore I will hope in him.’

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, ♦
to the soul that seeks him.

It is good that we should wait quietly ♦
for the salvation of the Lord.

For the Lord will not reject for ever; ♦
though he causes grief, he will have compassion,

According to the abundance of his steadfast love; ♦
for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.

Lamentations 1.12,16a,b; 3.19,21-26,31-33

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Readings

Jonah's lament the healing of the nations

Jonah 2

Read by Gina

A reading from the book of the prophet Jonah

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
‘I called to the Lord out of my distress,
        and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
        and you heard my voice.
You cast me into the deep,
        into the heart of the seas,
        and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
        passed over me.
Then I said, “I am driven away
        from your sight;
how shall I look again
        upon your holy temple?”
The waters closed in over me;
        the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped around my head
        at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
        whose bars closed upon me for ever;
yet you brought up my life from the Pit,
        O Lord my God.
As my life was ebbing away,
        I remembered the Lord;
and my prayer came to you,
        into your holy temple.
Those who worship vain idols
        forsake their true loyalty.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
        will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
        Deliverance belongs to the Lord!’
Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Revelation 22.1-2

Read by Paul

A reading from the book of Revelation

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalms

Psalm 23
Psalm 25
Psalm 31
Psalm 46
Psalm 91
Psalm 121

Gospel Readings

Good Friday Do not worry

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

Read by David

Luke 12.22-31

Read by Jonathan

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Reflective Music

Obinasom (thanks to Mercy)
My Life is in your Hands (thanks to Mercy)
Were you there when they crucified the Lord

Reflections

SundaySchool Stations of the Cross The Reproaches And the people Spring Clean

Sunday School have made 18 Crosses
The Reproaches

Read by Colin

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow
which was brought upon me,
which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

O my people, O my Church,
what have I done to you,
or in what have I offended you?
Testify against me.
I led you forth from the land of Egypt,
and delivered you by the waters of baptism,
but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

I led you through the desert forty years,
and fed you with manna.
I brought you through tribulation and penitence,
and gave you my body, the bread of heaven,
but you prepared a cross for your Saviour.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

What more could I have done for you
that I have not done?
I planted you, my chosen and fairest vineyard,
I made you the branches of my vine;
but when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink,
and pierced with a spear the side of your Saviour.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
and you have led me to the judgement hall of Pilate.
I scourged your enemies and brought you
to a land of freedom,
but you have scourged, mocked and beaten me.
I gave you the water of salvation from the rock,
but you have given me gall and left me to thirst.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

I gave you a royal sceptre,
and bestowed the keys of the kingdom,
but you have given me a crown of thorns.
I raised you on high with great power,
but you have hanged me on the cross.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
and washed your feet as a sign of my love,
but you draw the sword to strike in my name,
and seek high places in my kingdom.
I offered you my body and blood,
but you scatter and deny and abandon me.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you,
and you close your hearts to the Counsellor.
I pray that all may be one in the Father and me,
but you continue to quarrel and divide.
I call you to go and bring forth fruit,
but you cast lots for my clothing.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;
I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not clothe me,
sick and in prison and you did not visit me.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

And the people . . .

Read by Andrea

And the people stayed home.
And read books,
and listened,
and rested,
and exercised,
and made art,
and played games,
and learned new ways of being,
and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated,
some prayed,
some danced.
Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant,
dangerous,
mindless,
and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed,
and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses,
and made new choices,
and dreamed new images,
and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,
as they had been healed.

Kitty O'Meara

The time We Spring Cleaned The World

Read by Andrea

Intercessions

Good Friday Set 1 Set 2 Wholeness & Healing

Intercessions for Holy Week

Read by Eileen

Let us bring to the Father our prayers of intercessionthrough Christ who gave himself for the life of the world.

For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For grace to seek out those habits of sin which meanspiritual death,and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For Christian people,that through the suffering of disunitythere may grow a rich union in Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them,that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly forjustice and peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those in the darkness and agony of isolation,that they may find support and encouragement,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow,feel that God is far from them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

That we, with those who have died in faith,may find mercy in the day of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

Intercessions (1)

Read by Auriel

Let us pray to God, who alone makes us dwell in safety: For all who are affected by coronavirus, through illness or isolation or anxiety, that they may find relief and recovery:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who are guiding our nation at this time, and shaping national policies, that they may make wise decisions:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For doctors, nurses and medical researchers, that through their skill and insights many will be restored to health: Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the vulnerable and the fearful, for the gravely ill and the dying, that they may know your comfort and peace: Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Intercessions (2)

Read by Auriel

Let us pray to the Lord, who is our refuge and stronghold. For the health and well-being of our nation, that all who are fearful and anxious may be at peace and free from worry:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the isolated and housebound, that we may be alert to their needs, and care for them in their vulnerability:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For our homes and families, our schools and young people, and all in any kind of need or distress:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For a blessing on our local community, that our neighbourhoods may be places of trust and friendship, where all are known and cared for:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

For Wholeness and Healing

Read by Colin

God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being.
We praise and bless you, Lord.

We recall those who need our prayers,
near to us and far away.

Lord, grant your healing graceto all who are sick, injured or disabled, that they may be made whole.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who are lonely, anxious or depressed a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who minister to those who are suffering wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Mend broken relationships, and restore to those in distress soundness of mind and serenity of spirit.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Sustain and support those who seek your guidance and lift up all who are brought low by the trials of this life.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to the dying peace and a holy death, and uphold by the grace and consolation of your Holy Spiritthose who are bereaved.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Restore to wholeness whatever is broken, in our lives, in our nation, and in the world.
Hear us, Lord of life.
You are the Lord who does mighty wonders.
You have declared your power among the peoples.
With you, Lord, is the well of life
and in your light do we see light.
Hear us, Lord of life:
Heal us, and make us whole.

A period of silence follows.

O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessings

for Passiontide

Read by Nick

Christ crucified draw you to himself,to find in him a sure ground for faith,a firm support for hope,and the assurance of sins forgiven;and the blessing of God Almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spiritbe among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Endings

Read by Nick

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Final Hymns

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
When I survey the wondrous cross